Spain Multisport Wine Adventure
September 7-13, 2008
| Price | $2,600 |
| Single Supplement | $950 (always optional) |
| Length | Seven Days & Six Nights |
| Activities | Hiking, Biking, Horseback |
| Guides (Tentative) | Allan, Reno, and Rafael |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate |
| Navigation Required | Basic Map Reading |
| Other | Bicycle Rental Included |
Spain and its people seem to have a true zest for life. A calendar and culture alive with feasts and celebrations give the Spaniards an excuse to relax and enjoy life, take in a siesta, and enjoy another glass of wine.
Our route is a big loop in the very north of the country. We start in the city of Bilbao on the northern coast and then traverse east across the coastline into the Basque region, an area rich in culture and steeped in history. We hike along the coast and on the El Camino de Santiago, the famous pilgrim path, before visiting several wineries to taste Txakolí, the local wine.
We then travel south into the Navarra region where we ride both bicycles and then horses under the impressive Navarran Pyrenees, surrounded by vineyards laden with the Tempranillo grape. Our home in Navarra is the city of Puente la Reina, which we access by bike over a six-arched medieval bridge.
Heading west into the province of la Rioja, we jump back on our bikes for a ride in the Ebro Valley, past the fortress village of Laguardia that contains the oldest winery in the region, and on to our home for the next two nights, Haro. Haro is the capital of the Rioja wine area and is the perfect place to explore the tapas bar culture of Spain.
We enjoy another hike, this time through the vineyards of the Rioja, before completing the journey by returning back north to Bilbao. The blend of a unique gastronomy, delicious varietals, and a rolling countryside make Northern Spain’s wine country the perfect place to find that Spanish zest for life.
Accommodations
We spend our first two nights in the Saiaz Getaria,
a 15th century stone hotel perched above the sea in the town of
Getaria, heart of the Basque country. You'll know right away from the
architecture and furnishings that you're in Spain! We then move to a
(relatively) newer hotel, the 17th century Hotel Bidean
in Puente la Reina. This is a typical Navarra structure in the middle
of the village that has been converted into a modern, comfortable
hotel. For our final two nights, we stay in the Hotel Los Agustinos,a
four-star hotel in the historic center of Haro, capital of the Rioja
region.
For More Information
See our Spain Frequently Asked
Questions or Itinerary
pages. Also please visit our Travels With Wine
blog.